Sunscreen: There’s An App For That?

Coppertone releases MyUVAlert app for the iPhone.

7th July 2010.By Jeff Hemmel

It seems like there’s an “app” for virtually everything, but one for sunscreen?

Apparently the answer is yes…kind of. Coppertone has launched the Coppertone MyUV Alert™ application for the iPhone. According to the company press release, it offers “outdoor lovers the ability to quickly manage individualized sun protection needs as the temperature rises. A must-add, this app helps take the guesswork out of sun protection and offers custom sunscreen reapplication reminders creating one less thing for you to remember!”

At least that’s the pitch. Here’s how it works. Users enter their zip code, which allows the app to offer a Custom UV Index via the iPhone’s embedded GPS. Daily UV Index advisories then let you know how strong the sun’s rays are that day in your region. With the knowledge of the daily number, you can choose the proper level of sun protection, even when traveling.

Of course, there’s more. Using the app’s Personalized Suncare Profile, you can even choose the level and type of protection that’s appropriate for your family, whether you’re light or dark-skinned, etc. Establish a profile and you can click on the “recommend” button based on your planned activity for the day.

There are even suncare “reminders” based on your activity. The app will alert you when it’s time to reapply. A giant hand will even emerge from the iPhone and rub sunscreen in on those hard-to-reach areas on your back!

Okay, I’m kidding about that last part…although that would be cool, huh?

In all seriousness, the sun is brutal, and the damage it inflicts is on the rise. As PWC enthusiasts we’re out in it all summer long, so if there’s a unique and fun way to make sure we’re getting the coverage we need, that’s a good thing.

Jeff Hemmel

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Jeff Hemmel writes for boats.com, Boating, PersonalWatercraft.com, and Powersports Business. The former Senior Editor at Watercraft World, Jeff is a multi-time award winner as well as a 2008 inductee into the IJSBA Hall of Fame. His first book, "The Anti-Pirate Potato Cannon...and 101 Other Things For Young Mariners To Try, Do, & Build On the Water," received a bronze medal in the 2010 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. For more info, visit Jeff Hemmel's website.